Exhibitions provide an ideal opportunity to identify trends, understand the power of new technologies and plan accordingly. January’s EAG fulfilled that function with Kashing’s James Luck shining a spotlight on how operators are embracing the company’s QR technology as a frictionless payment method that’s second nature to consumers.
Well known industry figure James Luck who is marketing Kashing’s payments solutions across the pub, club, MSA, holiday park and amusements sectors, is describing the frictionless simplicity of QR /NFC technology as representing a ‘massive game changer’ both for consumers and for the industry at large.
Commenting on the feedback and the orders placed at EAG Expo he noted: “After an exhibition such as EAG, which is Kashing’s most important business event on the amusement industry calendar, it’s important to let the dust settle, confirm the orders that have been placed, reflect on the conversations that have taken place and assess the quality of the potential customer interest.
“Having gone through that process it is obvious that we have enjoyed our best ever edition of EAG, one at which we secured significant concrete orders from operators and had advanced enquiries and serious conversations which I am confident will be converted into both new customers and new sales during Q1.
“It was a great show on a number of different levels and an edition where the acceptance of new payment methods was tangible.”
A key driver for growth is the frictionless nature and simplicity of the QR/NFC technology. He confirmed: “Operators move at different speeds but at EAG there was a sense, probably for the first time, that businesses accepted that using QR/NFC technology is now second nature to consumers, that it’s seamless and most importantly that it works and helps grow machine income.”
Drilling down into the product sectors which are at the forefront of the QR/NFC payments revolution that’s impacting the industry he said: “The entry level for product sectors including pool, cranes, capsule machines, jukebox and boxing machines is highly competitive.
“All of the market data reflects the growing influence of QR enabled payments. Across all age groups, familiarity and willingness to use QR codes is touching 80 percent. Furthermore, 100 percent of 16-24-year-olds own a Smartphone, a figure that sits at 99 percent for 25-34-year-olds and 96 percent for 55-64-year-olds. Even for those aged 65+ the figure is 88 percent and just 6 percent of UK adults do not own a Smartphone.
“The immediacy of QR/NFC payments simplifies the purchasing process for customers while significantly reducing operating costs by minimising the time and expense associated with cash handling. Kashing’s QR/NFC solution working in conjunction with our pool telemetry allows the user to still use a cash selection thereby maximising consumer choice. The QR/NFC only solution starts at £50 and with the price of the dual payment option at £150 it’s not surprising that a growing number of operators are adding the contactless option to their sites”
Code breakers
James Luck said…… “All of the market data reflects the growing influence of QR enabled payments. Across all age groups, familiarity and willingness to use QR codes is touching 80 percent……
Originally published on Coinslot on February 16, 2026. Republished with permission.